Local Sports Journal
The No. 19 ranked Muskegon Community College Jayhawk wrestlers traveled to Trine University as the only junior college amongst a field of NCAA Division III and NAIA schools.
Undeterred, the Jayhawks claimed three individual championships and four runner-up finishes and had eight wrestlers place in the top four.
“The crazy thing is we gave a few starters the weekend off to heal up and spend time with family, we only entered wrestlers in eight of the 10 weights and we still performed this well,” said MCC coach Mark Brunger. “That is a credit to our training and the overall dedication of the team to make one another better each and every day.”
The Jayhawks were opening eyes all day as they sent seven wrestlers to the finals in six out of the eight weight classes they entered.
For the second week in row, teammates Lukas Gilmore and Shaquill Bell faced each other in the finals at 165 lbs. Gilmore won the championship as Bell defaulted due to a swollen eye.
“Both of these guys have just been dynamite so far this year,” said Brunger.
Zachary Cooper and Donavan Fouchery also led the charge for MCC. The freshman from Whitehall (Cooper) took home the crown at the 133 weight class while Fouchey (Oscoda) did the same at the 197 class.
Joining Bell as runners-up was Cody Stenberg (freshman/Reeths-Puffer) at 141 pounds, Tyler Stenberg (freshman/Reeths-Puffer) at 149 pounds, and Joseph Sika (Freshman/Whitehall) at 174. Chad Maks (freshman/Hartland) was fourth at 197.
